IRONMAN® would like to thank the communities and volunteers of Hamilton and Walker Counties and welcome more than 4,500 athletes from across the globe to Chattanooga by kicking off the four-day race event with a free celebration of all things MADE IN TENNESSEE 6-10 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 6.

The community is invited to get out and show the athletes and visitors some true southern hospitality as they are introduced to the MADE IN TENNESSEE Celebration featuring bluegrass and country artists whose careers were made in Tennessee.

The festivities include a southern shop and dine around experience, live music, and more along Broad Street between West Aquarium Way and West 3rd Streets, with the famed Tennessee Aquarium as the backdrop for the main stage entertainment. The Broad Street restaurants and shops will showcase southern-inspired foods, wines, and spirits.

Stick around on Saturday, Sept. 9, and Sunday, Sept. 10, as professional and age group athletes IRONMAN® professional and age group athletes will be IRONMAN 70.3 World Champions MADEIN TENNESSEE.

EVENT SCHEDULE:6-10 p.m. Southern Shop & Dine Around

6:30-7:30 p.m. The excitement begins with a performance from local favorite Strung Like A Horse, providing a taste of the bluegrass sounds from Chattanooga.

8-9 p.m. The evening turns up a notch with headlining act and one of iHeartRadio’s ON THE VERGE country music artists – Carly Pearce. As the only solo female in the Top 15 at Country Radio with “Every Little Thing,” her textured vocals and charismatic presence will have the crowd craving more from the breakout star on Big Machine Records!